Rafael Paganini

Rafael Paganini is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Michael Langhi and Fábio Gurgel of the Alliance Academy, who worked extensively also with Eduardo Leitão and Max Trombini. One of the top medium-heavyweights of his generation, Paganini conquered a Brazilian Nationals title and multiple International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Championship medals in the colored belt divisions, prior to earning his black belt in 2019. Rafael is also the brother of another skilled BJJ black belt, Mr. Caio Paganini.

Rafael Paganini Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Rafael Lopes Paganini

Nickname: N/A

Lineage 1: C. Gracie > H. Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Fábio Gurgel > Rafael Paganini

Lineage 2: Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie > Rolls Gracie > Romero Cavalcanti > Alexandre Paiva > Fernando Augusto > Rubens Charles > Michael Langhi > Rafael Paganini

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NoGi (2019*)
• 1st Place IBJJF South American Championship (2019)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2022)
• 2nd Place South American Championship (2019*)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2018 brown)
• 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NoGi (2018** brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF São Paulo BJJ Pro (2017 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF São Paulo Open (2016 / 2018 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship (2016 brown)
• 2nd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2019 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF São Paulo BJJ Pro (2016 / 2018 brown)
• 2nd Place IBJJF São Paulo Open (2014 / 2015 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2016* / 2018 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2018 brown)
• 3rd Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2017** / 2018* brown)

Favorite Position/Technique: DLR

Weight Division: Meio Pesado (88,30 kg / 195.0 lbs)

Team/Association: Alliance

Rafael Paganini Biography

Rafael Paganini was born on April 06, 1995 in São Paulo, Brazil.

Growing up Paganini practiced and competed in an array of sports, though none with a particularly dedicated approach. At the age of 14, however, Rafael decided to pick something that could not only challenge his limits in discipline and physicality but could also improve his self-confidence. He chose jiu-jitsu for that effect, starting his grappling life at the Cia Paulista headquarters with Eduardo Leitão and Max Trombini.

As a purple belt, after he joined a local university to learn management, Rafael had an epiphany and realized he wanted to follow a career in BJJ. The pursuit of his dream, in his belief, required that Paganini moved to a bigger team, with a bigger competition focus and a higher level of athletes on the mats, finding this environment at the Alliance – Matrix (SP) with coaches Michael Langhi and Fábio Gurgel.

Under the guidance of two of the most prestigious coaches in our sport / martial art, Rafael conquered his most impressive international in the colored belt divisions, performances which earned him his brown and black belts, the latter earned on June 2019, from coaches Langhi and Gurgel.

Rafael Paganini x Marcos Petcho